Animal Planet filming 'Cops' series in Phoenix

Documentary filmmakers from Animal Planet are in Phoenix this summer to compile footage on dozens of local animal cruelty cases for an upcoming cable TV series.

The crew is expected to work through January with a Phoenix police animal cruelty detective and the Arizona Humane Society as it prepares a show to be titled, Animal Cops: Phoenix.

Like prior cities featured on Animal Planet, the filmmakers are expected to shoot more than 60 storylines to choose from, according to an Animal Planet spokesman.

The Animal Cops series - one of the most popular and longest-running on Animal Planet - has already documented in Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Filmmakers arrived in July, the time of year Phoenix Detective Kathy Magill said she responds to more animal neglect cases than ever from her office in the north Phoenix Desert Horizon Precinct.

Magill responds citywide to cases that range from dogs left in overheated cars to dogs with open, bleeding wounds from collars embedded tightly in their skin. But dogs left in overheated cars are a near-daily occurrence in Phoenix.

"During the summer, we have a major increase in that," she said. "With the realty crisis the way it is, we also have a lot of people abandoning their houses with their dogs in the backyard."

Magill said she works closely with the Arizona Humane Society's emergency animal medical technicians, who were featured in the show, Animal Planet Heroes Phoenix, which aired two years ago.

As a self-proclaimed animal lover with four dogs, Magill said she is the only detective at Phoenix Police exclusively assigned to animal cruelty cases. She also investigates burglaries and acts as a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team, responding to officer-involved shootings and other line-of-duty emergencies.

She said she is proud of her work on animal cruelty cases, acting as an advocate for the victims highlighted on Animal Cops.

"Animal Planet wants to show the good and bad involving animal crimes and help with the problem," Magill said. "If a difference can be made for one animal then all the work is worth it."

Phoenix Detective Kathy Magill says she responds to more animal neglect cases than ever from her office in the north Phoenix Desert Horizon Precinct. Joining her is Molly, who was saved after she was struck by a car as a puppy.

How to help: Most groups have adoption applications online, which starts the screening process that may include home visits and interviews. These rescue groups are among those taking in some of the 89 rescued dogs: